The True Heiress's Return

Shakira handed Rachel her milkshake and said, "Drink up before we move on." Last night, Shakira saw tons of marketing promos everywhere.

There were short videos, Twitter posts, shopping sites redirecting to ads, and even reading apps that featured similar products. The Nelson family really went all out to boost Yvette's image. Rachel looked at the set beside her. "Can I open it?"

After swallowing her bite, Xanthe replied, "Sure, go ahead! Not like I'd actually use Yvette's stuff."

Rachel unwrapped the packaging, curious if the skincare products were really as miraculous as advertised. Shakira watched Rachel's actions closely.

Inside the set were a toner, a serum, and a lotion, all in sleek black and gold bottles that looked luxurious.

Xanthe shook one and scoffed, "It's nothing special."

Shakira said, "Maybe there's more to it. Users say it works for all skin types and fixes eighty percent of skin issues."

Xanthe shot back, "Anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, acne treatment, and whitening? Total nonsense!" Skeptical, Xanthe opened the serum and took a whiff. Her face soured, and she turned away, feeling sick. "Ugh, that smells terrible!" Xanthe exclaimed.

"Smells bad?" Shakira asked, lifting the serum to smell it herself. A harsh, bitter scent filled the air, clearly unpleasant.

Shakira frowned slightly. "It's probably all the herbal ingredients. No added fragrances."

"Wow, that's disgusting! Who could use this and sleep?" Xanthe complained, pinching her nose and pushing it away. "There's a component which helps with calming and sleep, so it might actually be soothing," Larry added. Xanthe looked shocked. "Wow, you-a guy-know about skincare?"

Larry shook his head. "Not really, but I have a good nose. My mom uses herbal medicine, so I recognize some herbs."

Xanthe pushed the bottle toward him. "Take another sniff."

Larry inhaled carefully. "There are definitely some herbs in here."

Shakira whispered, "These herbs might help with inflammation, but they aren't for everyone."

Turning to Xanthe, Shakira asked, "Can I borrow this set for a few days?"Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

"Of course! I meant to give it to you," Xanthe said cheerfully.

Shakira smiled. "Thanks."

Later, Shakira went back to the office and texted Jasmin to send a set for ingredient analysis. Jasmin: [OK]

Jasmin: [By the way, that fellow's vital signs have been all over the place. Want to check it out?] Shakira: [Let's plan for the weekend.]

<

18:37 Mon,

Jasmin: [Sounds good. Just let me know in advance.]

After setting up a courier to pick up the package, Shakira prepared to wash her hands and get to work. As she opened the partition door, she overheard a conversation about her.

"Shakira is something! I just saw her with a set of the hot new sosialite skincare products, Rippling Heart!"

"Really? It looked too fancy for her! Rippling Heart doesn't send their products to some without backing!"

"Of course she has connections! On her first day, she was chatting with Mr. Lopez. This morning, Mr. Reynolds came by, and she practically pulled him into the conference room!" "George and Charles like her too. Even Quincy, who was rude to her, is now polite-how weird is that?"

"Wow, she really knows how to handle people!"

"Few female friends but thrive with men. So shameless!"

The conversation abruptly stopped.

The women in the restroom exchanged nervous glances as Shakira pushed the door open, her face calm.

Seemingly unfazed, Shakira walked to the sink and turned on the faucet.

Her slender hands sparkled under the running water, stunning the onlookers.

The women felt a wave of anxiety, unsure of what Shakira might do. They remembered her recent clash in finance and knew she wasn't someone to mess with.

One stepped forward, saying, "Shakira, we weren't gossiping about you. Everyone knows that!"

Shakira carefully washed her hands, turned off the water, and dried them with a towel before leaving.

Feeling ignored, the women were both anxious and angry. One shouted, "Shakira, what do you mean?"

Another added, "Are you feeling guilty?"

Suddenly, Shakira stopped in her tracks.